Steelpaint is working to help protect the metal structure of old ships by providing corrosion-resistant coatings. According to Clarksons data, as of July 2025, 38% of the global fleet's capacity is over 15 years old, which includes 30% of the capacity of bulk carriers and 33% of the capacity of container ships.
Corrosion Challenges in Old Fleets
Corrosion has been described as the most common finding in ship hulls. DNV survey data shows a significant increase in corrosion findings in ballast water tanks and cargo tanks in the third renewal survey. These findings peak in the fourth survey when ships reach 15 and 20 years of age.
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For this reason, ship owners need to pay more attention to corrosion protection. The question is not how much it costs to coat a structure during dry dock repairs, but rather what level of maintenance is required over the remaining lifespan of the ship.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Coating
Economies change significantly when a ship is expected to continue operating for another 10 or 15 years. In this scenario, protecting steel becomes part of the asset lifespan calculations. Owners must consider how much an area needs to be repaired, how much steel may ultimately need to be replaced, and how much maintenance can be avoided over the remaining lifespan of the ship.
Corrosion can lead to localized and general reductions in steel thickness, while pits and grooves can result in cracks, holes, and leaks. If deterioration progresses sufficiently, it may be necessary to renew steel between scheduled class surveys, which incurs repair and downtime costs.
Changes in IMO regulations also lead to increased inspections of tanks whose protective coatings are not in "good" condition. This is particularly challenging for tank structures, lower bases, and other cargo structures in bulk carriers that are subject to wear and mechanical damage.
Steelpaint's single-component coatings are recognized as a solution for protecting critical areas against corrosion. These coating systems, with zinc-rich primers, are specifically designed for steel structures exposed to marine and industrial environments, and their effectiveness has been proven over the long term.
A three-year comparative test on a 15,300 TEU container ship shows that Steelpaint's zinc-rich coating exhibited only minor corrosion at the time of inspection in July 2026 and required no maintenance.
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